The assignment given was the same one Elmyn had before she got injured. Find and get a hold of a dangerous artifact that can be used to open up gateways towards other plains. She had found the object, and the man who had it in his possesion. Elmyn didn't know his name but she knew he was a tyrant.
While she was thinking about her encounter with this guy, nearly five weeks ago now, Cera and Shadow entered the Magistrate's office.
Cera was being her usual cheery self again and was chattering about a dress she saw in a shop and how it would perfectly match with her jewerly.
Shadow was visibly sighing at the human woman in front of him and when he looked at Em he made a gesture of hanging himself by an invisible noose and mouthing 'kill me'.
Em snorted and shook her head. 'Cera, enough about the clothes. Any idea where our lovely friend Stabber might be?'
'Stabber?' was Cera's initial reply. 'Oohhh... Stabber.' She said while pretending to stab her side in the place where he best friend was stabbed. 'We heard rumours he's traveling West from here. The description of him that we send to our allies have spotted a man like that in..'
'Calimport' The three said at the exact same time. 'Probably securing a boat, but where is he going?' Shadow said, more to himself than to the others whilst he was looking at the large map that was on the table.
They were currently in Almraiven. This would mean the man was long gone. It did not take five weeks to cross the Calim desert.
'I say we still go. It's the only lead we have. Gather your belongings, prepare for a long and hot journey. I'll try to find a caravan east.' Em said while walking out of the room. Leaving Shadow with a way too happy Cera again who was nearly squeeling her delight about leaving here and going on an adventure. he just sighed again and followed Em outside.
Three days later the trio left Almraiven with a caraven toward Calimport. It would take them just around two weeks if there were no delays. Em could only hope and pray for a quit road ahead.
One evening, after setting up camp Elmyn saw Shadow sitting on a higher sand dune, keeping the first watch. She grabbed two cups and a waterskin and made her way towards him.
She sat down next to him in the sand. He didn't look to her and kept his blue eyes toward the stars.
'What's on your mind?' she asked as she have him one of the cups that she had filled with water.
He took the cup from her and took a small sip. He then turned to look at her. She looked truly beautiful in the moonlight. Her normally weath colored hair looked like silver under the illuminated night's sky. So did her grey eyes.
'Just thinking about what we will do when we catch this guy'. he said quickly, hoping the dark of the night would hide his slight blush. They had talked like this a few times before while keeping watch. He had found out she was a half-elf, not a full blooded elf as he thought when he first saw her.
In his turn he had also told her that he was a half breed. His mother concieved him when she was raped by a Drow when the foul creatures raided the lands where she lived. He was unwanted by her and was abandend by her when he was three days old. His adoptive father told him this. He had found the babe and just couldn't leave it to die.
He also told her that he was never welcome and people shunned him and that he thought about taking his own life a few times. He also told her hedidn't blame her for her first reaction towards him. She apologised to him again. 'I never ment to hurt your feelings'. She said, gently squeezing his bicep. They sat there quietly for a while, looking at the stars. 'I'm going to get some rest now'. She yawned and stretched her arms over her head. 'wake me when it's time for my watch?' She walked over to the camp while his eyes kept following her, a small smile on his lips. 'You'll make living worth it again' He whispered to himself.
Their trip was fairly uneventful. Apart from a sandstorm nothing happend. Shadow learned that in her free time Em enjoyed writing songs. Even on the back of her camel she managed to write. The last day before reaching Calimport she asked him what he thought of her lastest writings. Elmyn told him she'd rather not ask Cera. 'She loves everything I write and I can't get decent critisism or feedback out of her. I'd value someone else's opinion'. she had said while she passed her notebook to him.
He began reading and he was pleasantly surprised by her talent.
Look at your watch
With a perilous gaze
A troubled stare
And when I ask where do we go
Say you don't care
Call on me
When the day is dark
Never too late you're underrated
Whatever your sins, whatever your loss
Your cup is filled
There is no way to turn back the clock
No one will
Call on me
There's fire in your heart
Lying in wait just like a lion
Maybe we should go back to the Earth
And live off the sun
Maybe we should crawl in the dirt
Before we run
A thousand years of art and song
Love and war
Tell me why you joined the club
What are we fighting for?
All hands on deck
A suicidal race
Prop up the good and smother the hate
The wall is high the sun is low
The four winds roar
Wide-eyed children fill the streets
To take back the score
There is no truth
That lies can make
No willing soldier in the wake
Maybe we should go back to the Earth
And live off the sun
Maybe we should crawl in the dirt
Before we run
Life is fragile
The flight of a sparrow
Will end
And the same goes for us
Born from the same rain and dust
Maybe we should go back to the Earth
And life will grow
And the river soon to return
And a plan unfold
Look at your watch
With a perilous gaze
A troubled stare
And when I ask where do we go
Say you don't care
Call on me
When the day is dark
Never too late you're underrated
'It's very good actually, Cera isn't wrong. I wonder what it will sound like when you sing it'. Cera, who had heard her name suddenly let her camel gallop in between her comapnions. 'You called my name, what's up!' Her voice way too cheery. No one would probably expect that this woman just had a near two week trip through a hot desert.
'Nothing Cera, I just showed Shadow one of my songs. I told him you like all of them and that I valued a real opinion for once'. The look on Elmyns face told Cera she wasn't all too serious in her so called insult yet she was still able to produce a faux dissapointed face. 'Well then, I'll never ask you for help with my clothes and jewerly again.' She pouted some more and crossed her arms over her chest. 'pftt... Elves' She then muttered and sped up her camel a bit more to ride it next to the caravan's merchant.
'She's something alright'. He said.
'Yeah, abnoxtious, demanding and vain.' Was Em's agitated reply. Her face then softend up. 'But I love her anyway. She's been there for me, no matter what.'
He then proceeded to pull his cloak further over his head as they were entering Calimport. They helped the merchants unload their goods and then made their way towards the harbour.
After a while they managed to find a dockworker that recognised the description of the man they were following.
'He got on a ship towards Waterdeep a forthnight ago.' He had told Cera.
The three then proceeded to figure out if there was any more ships going that was anytime soon. 'Well miss, you are in luck. There's a ship leaving for Waterdeep in 3 days time. Go to the most western dock. Look for the Sea Spirit. It's captain should be able to help you.'
Cera thanked and payed the man, who refused the gold but settled for a kiss from the pretty human girl he had just helped.
They easily found the ship and it's captain. A cheery fellow that went by the name of Deurdemont. He agreed to take the two ladies and one more to the port of Waterdeep. Shadow hadn't come along in the city. His skincolor would give the ladies more problems than good fortune. He had chosen to stay at the room they had rented for a few nights. When they returned Cera was all smiles and telling in a cheery tone that everything was going according to plan. She then started to change into clean clothes and promptly left the room again to get some food. Leaving the two half-elves alone in the room.
'If you are hungry I can get us something to eat aswel.' She asked him. 'Not hungry just yet.' was his reply. His voice lacked the strength it usually did have when he spoke to her. Over the past six weeks they had become friends and they talked about their childhoods a lot. 'What's wrong?' she asked him. 'You sound like you got kicked in the gut.' He turned to face her and looked into her beautiful eyes. There was no way he could hide anything from her perceptive eyes. 'I'm just, well, scared I guess. The captain and his crew will find out that I am Drow, or atleast part Drow. I don't want to get you and Cera in trouble or make this mission even harder than it already is. '
Before he could say more she took a few steps closer to him and looked him straight in his eyes.
'I will not let anyone harm you, my friend. If they mess with you they will mess with me. And if someone messes with me they will face the wrath that is an angry Cera.' She was poking a slender finger into his chest. The vision of an angry Cera made Shadow laugh out loud right then. 'What is she going to do, make everyones noses light up with her magic?' Elmyn was staring at him and blinked her eyes a few times and then raised an eyebrow. He was still laughing at the thought of lit up noses on their enemies faces. Elmyn got the same vision in her head and through the combination of that and his laugh she started laughing too.
After a few minutes she wiped the tears from eyes and looked at him again. He stared at her, a smile on his lips. The look on his face made her stomach feel funny.
'Thank you, seriously. I should believe in myself and the kindness of others some more'. he then said.
Because she didn't know what to do and she didn't want him to see she was blushing she stepped forward again and to her own surprise she hugged him, hiding her face in his shoulder. She noticed she caught him by surpise, his whole body stiffend up. After a few seconds he relaxed a bit and returned the hug. 'You're welcome, friend'. was her reply.